Getting a kitten soon

MaySunflowers · 09-16-2015, 10:29 PM

We have have chosen a kitten and are waiting for it to be old enough to come home.

Now... I've had lots of cats growing up... five actually... two of them are still alive and are 14 & 16 living with my parents in Canada (I wasn't able to take them when I moved to th Uk).

Now it feels like so long since I've had a kitten that I'm not feeling confident I am kitten proofing our place right.

Any tips or things you think I might easily miss?

We live in a house with two floors, I was thinking a litter box on each floor until it is older?

I've been teaching my kids all sorts of things to be aware of so they know how to avoid accidentally hurting the kitty (they are 7 & 10 so I'm not that worried anyway.)

I'm excited... just hoping this one isn't an ankle scratcher! Hate that stage.

Leslie · 09-17-2015, 07:50 AM

Aww, a kitten. I love kittens!

Our cat likes to eat gift ribbon (and then throw it up later) and chew the corners of books and papers. So maybe look around the house for stringy things the kitten might try to eat, and watch to see if the kitten likes to chew books and papers?

That's the best I could come up with.

MaySunflowers · 09-17-2015, 09:29 AM

I forgot about that.

I actually had a cat once that could tear ANY empty cardboard box into tiny pieces in the few minutes you left the room. Lol

Amber · 09-17-2015, 09:48 AM

I would keep a littler box on each floor even after it is an adult. It can help cut down on potty issues.

Having both horizontal and vertical climbing areas is nice to help keep them out of trouble. My favorite cat toy is called The Cat Dancer. It doesn't look like much, but my cats go crazy for it.

Soliloquy · 09-17-2015, 10:20 AM

When we lived in a house with a basement, the litter boxes were in the basement and new kittens didn't have any trouble with that. We just showed them where they were and that was that. No harm in having one per floor, though.

Check your houseplants for being poisonous. Hang any that are special.

kiloyd · 09-17-2015, 12:37 PM

Been a very long time since I've had a kitten too.

I think the best thing is to confine the kitten to one room when you are gone and maybe at night for the first few weeks.

MaySunflowers · 10-03-2015, 08:35 AM

Age and motherhood has made me so aware and paranoid about getting our new kitten... I am so aware of all the things that could happen.

Kitten is coming home Friday evening.

Leslie · 10-03-2015, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaySunflowers

Kitten is coming home Friday evening.

Post adorable kitten pictures!

MaySunflowers · 10-03-2015, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leslie

Post adorable kitten pictures!

Of course! I shall pretend I'm a photographer. Lol

Soliloquy · 10-03-2015, 10:48 AM

We just got a tiny kitten last Sunday. We held her the entire first afternoon as she was pretty scared. By they next day she was up to crazy kitty antics, including climbing the curtains up to the ceiling.

MaySunflowers · 10-03-2015, 11:27 AM

Lol.... hoping mine is the relaxed sort like my amazing cat from years ago... my ankles are nervous!

Leslie · 10-03-2015, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

We just got a tiny kitten last Sunday.

How am I to believe you if there are no pictures?

kiloyd · 10-03-2015, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

We just got a tiny kitten last Sunday. We held her the entire first afternoon as she was pretty scared. By they next day she was up to crazy kitty antics, including climbing the curtains up to the ceiling.

The reason I adopt adult cats, to avoid that phase. But kittens are soooo cute!

MrsHutch · 10-04-2015, 10:38 AM

Oh yes, protect your plants! I pretty much only have hanging plants or a few on very very high shelves that the cats can't get to, because they loooooove to eat the leaves. The good news is that macrame-style plant hangers are back in style.

My only other piece of advice would be to consider getting another one.

Cats can get pretty lonely, and two are SO entertaining both for each other and for their people.

MaySunflowers · 10-04-2015, 10:53 AM

I want two, they have two... but my husband says one and won't budge.

09-16-2015, 10:29 PM	#1
MaySunflowers Deactivated Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7,781	Getting a kitten soon We have have chosen a kitten and are waiting for it to be old enough to come home. Now... I've had lots of cats growing up... five actually... two of them are still alive and are 14 & 16 living with my parents in Canada (I wasn't able to take them when I moved to th Uk). Now it feels like so long since I've had a kitten that I'm not feeling confident I am kitten proofing our place right. Any tips or things you think I might easily miss? We live in a house with two floors, I was thinking a litter box on each floor until it is older? I've been teaching my kids all sorts of things to be aware of so they know how to avoid accidentally hurting the kitty (they are 7 & 10 so I'm not that worried anyway.) I'm excited... just hoping this one isn't an ankle scratcher! Hate that stage.

09-17-2015, 07:50 AM	#2
Leslie Rose Garden Genteel Princess Mollie Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6,203	Re: Getting a kitten soon Aww, a kitten. I love kittens! Our cat likes to eat gift ribbon (and then throw it up later) and chew the corners of books and papers. So maybe look around the house for stringy things the kitten might try to eat, and watch to see if the kitten likes to chew books and papers? That's the best I could come up with.

09-17-2015, 09:29 AM	#3
MaySunflowers Deactivated Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7,781	Re: Getting a kitten soon I forgot about that. I actually had a cat once that could tear ANY empty cardboard box into tiny pieces in the few minutes you left the room. Lol

09-17-2015, 09:48 AM	#4
Amber Rose Garden Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The rainy side of Washington. Posts: 18,232	Re: Getting a kitten soon I would keep a littler box on each floor even after it is an adult. It can help cut down on potty issues. Having both horizontal and vertical climbing areas is nice to help keep them out of trouble. My favorite cat toy is called The Cat Dancer. It doesn't look like much, but my cats go crazy for it. __________________ Amber ISFJ Wife to my wonderful DH And keeper of the boys Big M (6/03) Forever ours Dec 2012 C (6/04), Little M (10/05) Forever ours Dec 2012 K (5/06) Missing our foster daughter Miss A

09-17-2015, 10:20 AM	#5
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: Getting a kitten soon When we lived in a house with a basement, the litter boxes were in the basement and new kittens didn't have any trouble with that. We just showed them where they were and that was that. No harm in having one per floor, though. Check your houseplants for being poisonous. Hang any that are special.

09-17-2015, 12:37 PM	#6
kiloyd Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 16,108	Re: Getting a kitten soon Been a very long time since I've had a kitten too. I think the best thing is to confine the kitten to one room when you are gone and maybe at night for the first few weeks. __________________ k-i-loyd, not kill loyd ISFJ/P Katherine, married 8-9-97 ds1 22 (adding a dil in August!) dd1 18 dd2 16 ds2 10

10-03-2015, 08:35 AM	#7
MaySunflowers Deactivated Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7,781	Re: Getting a kitten soon Age and motherhood has made me so aware and paranoid about getting our new kitten... I am so aware of all the things that could happen. Kitten is coming home Friday evening.

10-03-2015, 10:48 AM	#10
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: Getting a kitten soon We just got a tiny kitten last Sunday. We held her the entire first afternoon as she was pretty scared. By they next day she was up to crazy kitty antics, including climbing the curtains up to the ceiling.

10-03-2015, 11:27 AM	#11
MaySunflowers Deactivated Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7,781	Re: Getting a kitten soon Lol.... hoping mine is the relaxed sort like my amazing cat from years ago... my ankles are nervous!

10-04-2015, 10:38 AM	#14
MrsHutch Rose Garden An Enneagram 7 type 1/2 ENTP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malawi! Posts: 6,295	Re: Getting a kitten soon Oh yes, protect your plants! I pretty much only have hanging plants or a few on very very high shelves that the cats can't get to, because they loooooove to eat the leaves. The good news is that macrame-style plant hangers are back in style. My only other piece of advice would be to consider getting another one. Cats can get pretty lonely, and two are SO entertaining both for each other and for their people. __________________ Stacy here! Enjoying my Complementarian marriage to Mr. Hutch since May 20, 2006 Blessed Mama of Miss H (16), Mr Big J (15), Miss T (14), Mr Little J (11), & Mr A (7) Missing three I will meet in Heaven (Feb 2012), (Apr 2016) & (Jun 2020) "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." -Legally Blonde

10-04-2015, 10:53 AM	#15
MaySunflowers Deactivated Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7,781	Re: Getting a kitten soon I want two, they have two... but my husband says one and won't budge.

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